AIBU?
To complain about this pharmacist
ClusterBuster · 12/06/2017 18:05
Genuinely asking if I'm being unresponsive due to feeling a tad ratty and unwell...
I've been prescribed a new medication from the neurologist, GP was unfamiliar with it. It was out of stock at my usual chemist so I went to a different one, branch of Lloyds.
First they only had a few in stock so had to part collect and go back, pharmacist was rather abrupt but I don't remember any big issue.
Went to get rest today
Waited a while listening to pharmacist moaning about a customer wanting neocate for her baby today, basically it had been missed off a delivery and woman had run out. Pharmacist was making lots of comments about how the customer should have order d early, how she wound her up etc and how she'd 'told her straight'. Went on quite a bit
The assistant spent a good while looking for my prescription then stepped back to ask pharmacist who said loudly 'oh yes, I wasn't happy at all with this' stomped round to check with me it was the right thing and stomped back.
I was wondering if there was an issue so asked assistant who went to check and came back saying 'this is expensive this brand, she thinks you should have the generic'. I pointed out I didn't write the prescription or request or brand, if she has issue surely contact the GP?
SmilingButClueless · 12/06/2017 18:11
Sounds very much like the Lloyds pharmacy near me. Either we live in the same place, or they have a special customer (dis)service course they send everyone on.
I wouldn't complain, because I don't think it would change anything. I just don't use them any more.
WellThatSucks · 12/06/2017 18:19
Yes, definitely having a bad day Chai but her bad day is no one else's problem but hers and taking whatever it is that's bugging them out on customers is bang out of order. I'm fairly easy-going and cut service industry workers a lot of slack when I know they are run off their feet and they take a lot of shit from some customers but other customers shouldn't have to put up with poor service and grouchy behaviour like this when they are not at fault. Complain OP.
Hastalapasta · 12/06/2017 18:29
Unprofessional but not much that you can do.
I cannot buy hydrocortisone (saves the NHS money) because I use it on the boys eczema. They both have a prescription for it, but the pharmacist refuses to sell it to me, as they are under 10yrs of age.
Even my Dr thinks that they are bonkers. Same strength and brand, but costs me less than £3.
Think she was probably having a bad day.
ClusterBuster · 12/06/2017 18:32
I'm not sure about the bad day, whilst I was more focused on the kids she was behaving the same the first time I went in!
From where i was standing it was a polite and orderly place-well as some who has worked in a supermarket it was dream behaviour from customers, in fact she didn't even have to talk to them- she has assistants for that.
Zaberwocky · 12/06/2017 18:35
Sounds identical to the Lloyds near me too. They moaned excessively about the antibiotics I needed for a UTI a couple of weeks ago... no reason. They just didn't think that anyone should have them, and tried to tell me to go home and just drink some cranberry juice 
...
I offered to piss blood for them. That shut her up after her lecture.
I'd just use another pharmacy OP.
harderandharder2breathe · 12/06/2017 18:36
You could complain and would be justified as it's bad customer service but tbh I don't expect anything would really change
Vote with your feet. If it's a regular prescription, most pharmacies should be able to order it in for you. I've been with Boots for years and they're very good, and when there have been issues like my prescription being sent to the wrong shop (two Boots on the same street in different shopping centres) they apologise and get it sorted. On the rare occasion I've run out of something and they've not received the prescription they've been very helpful and called the GP surgery to fax it over and will dispense and emergency supply if needed. The staff are very friendly (one remembers me by name every time even when I hadn't seen her for months). Yes there's occasional problems but most important is that they sort them out with good grace.
britnay · 12/06/2017 18:40
Most everyday medicines will arrive in the pharmacy later the same day or the next morning after ordering. Some medications (neocate in this example) don't necessarily come in the next day after ordering, so the patient will need to send repeat to dr a few days earlier than usual in order for the pharmacy to get the prescription and order the item so that it comes in by the time the patient needs it. The pharmacist has probably had to remind them of this several times in the past.
Unprofessional to have the conversation so loudly that others can hear it though.
As for your situation, yes there will be cheaper alternatives. However as the dr has prescribed a specific brand, the pharmacy will still be paid for that brand, so its not really any of their business.
If you were a regular customer and they were on good terms with your doctors surgery, then with your consent they could write to the doctors letting them know how much it costs compared to the generics. This would allow your doctor to choose a cheaper option, if s/he wanted to.
Soubriquet · 12/06/2017 18:41
Wow it's such a shame to read these.
My Lloyds pharmacy go above and beyond for us even to the extent of contacting the doctor for us to increase a prescription level, and priority ordering in special milk when the delivery van forgot to bring it and we had none left.
I don't know how they did it but they managed to get a load of tins in that day even though their delivery had already happened.
I would complain. She sounds very unprofessional
UnbornMortificado · 12/06/2017 18:46
What is it about Lloyds?
I was lectured for about ten minutes because the pharmacist didn't approve of my low dose very much considered safe antidepressant whilst pregnant.
Fuck knows what good positive thinking does but it's not going to cure my bi-polar.
Tippytappytoes · 12/06/2017 18:47
If you think the pharmacist was being unprofessional you can report them to the General Pharmaceutical Council who will investigate your concerns.
www.pharmacyregulation.org/raising-concerns
MissJC · 12/06/2017 18:54
I am telling you as somebody who is registered with the GPhC that they will not investigate that complaint.
I received reports from patients that another local pharmacy was selling drugs such as Oramorph and Diazepam without prescription (which isn't just unprofessional but carries a prison sentence) and that took some persuading to investigate.
If your going to complain, do it direct to Lloyds.
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